Ugh, V issue :/

[vae]

Well I didn't think it would happen to me but maybe/hopefully this is something small.

Everything was OK until I went into 10W mode in Ch.3 -- everything was fine when I did. When I then flipped out of 10W back to 90W my volume is barely audible and doesn't scale up like it should by using the main output knob.

Buddy of mine was helping me diagnose -- I get volume fine when I plug directly into the effects return in all wattage modes in all channels, so preamp issue?

Any other ideas before this goes to Mesa? Thankfully I live about an hour and a half from Petaluma if it comes down to that.

 

[gplex]

As per the manual, V3, V4, and V5 affect the third channel. If the problem was with V1, all channels would be affected, so rule that out. I would use a known good preamp tube and replace them one at a time. If you don't have one Guitar center has them. Any 12ax7 will work. If that doesnt do the trick that sucks. I had a problem with mine. It was a bad capacitor. They were very good to deal with and it seems to work fine now. But it took almost 2 months. I think they still have some bugs in em.

 

[vae]

Ah thanks man -- actually I should have elaborated. I have the same volume dump in all channels so it may be V1.

Now its fun times with tube swapping.

 

[Nermel]

If you are having difficulty with volume levels...that says to me: Power Tube replacement...luckily there is a warranty

 

[EtherealWidow]

If you are having difficulty with volume levels...that says to me: Power Tube replacement...luckily there is a warranty

Yeah but dude that seems weird though considering he plugged the guitar into the FX return. Then again, FX loops are line level (+4dB) and normal guitar jacks are instrument level (-20dB) so maybe that's why the volume seemed fine. Dunno.

 

[Nermel]

Yeah but despite that...the volume level should get louder on the same channel as you go from 10w to 45w to 90w.

 

[MusicManJP6]

I would call Mesa...

 

[hazbin]

I had the same issue V1 pre amp tube

 

[phyrexia]

Preamp tube should be your first thought. A call to Mesa isn't necessary to diagnose tube faults...

 

[vae]

Well I got some time to mess with it today -- and I narrowed the problem down further.

I took my pedal out of the effects loop and the amp is working perfectly fine now -- next step?

 

[EtherealWidow]

Did you still have the effects loop on, but simply removed the pedal?

 

[vae]

Edit: Pedal into effects loop -- problem occurs. Disengaging the effects loop (while pedal still in the loop) problem goes away -- still tube issue?

 

[EtherealWidow]

Might be tube V6 then. :/ It affects the loop and channel 3.

 

[vae]

Edit: Everything working fine again, this is annoying ;/.

Edit: After about 2 minutes of playing, sounds cuts out (same as always) but is fixed by disengaging the loop.

 

[ryjan]

Take the pedal completely out of the loop and try it.
Any time you have a problem you should always start by taking things out of your chain one at a time until all you have is a guitar, one cable, and an amp.

 

[vae]

Yeah it looks like its the pedal -- what was making it a bit harder to pinpoint is the pedal would create the problems after 5-10 minutes of playing.

I used the pedal until it failed and then plugged in a different pedal and the problem went away.

I also ran the pedal in front to make sure it wasn't the effects loop and the pedal just gives me a low "static" sound (whereas my other pedal works fine in front) so I'm 99% sure its the pedal -- going to go exchange it to see if that helps, thanks for the input guys. Appreciate it.